Garrett 250 Birthday Bash: Celebrating America Together

Join us for the official community celebration of the semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary, of the United States of America!

Garrett 250 Birthday Bash: Celebrating America Together is a countywide celebration on July 18, 2026 at the Garrett County Fairgrounds that brings all Garrett County towns together to share their unique chapters of America’s 250-year story through exhibits, music, family activities, a patriotic concert, veteran honors, and a finale drone show.

It honors not just history from the Revolutionary time period but both Garrett County and American history by celebrating the diverse people, places, and stories that have shaped the past 250 years.

Highlights of the day include:

• Special Collaborative Community Project
• Biergarten (bring a chair!)
• All-Day Live Music featuring The Remedy, Queen City Funk & Soul, The Jason Shaw Band, and Garrett Community Concert Band
• Garrett County & Western Maryland History
• Speakers
• Veteran Honors
• Historical Reenactors
• Interactive Demos
• Kid's Zone
• Vendors
• Local Non-profits
• Local Food
• Community Services
• Car Show
• More!

GARRETT 250 TENTATIVE EVENT SCHEDULE

12:00 PM – GATES OPEN – NO CHARGE FOR ENTRY – DONATIONS ACCEPTED

12:00 pm – 8:30 pm FREEDOM ON WHEELS CAR SHOW

HOMETOWN HEROES

COLONIAL VILLAGE

STARS & STRIPES KIDS ZONE

STARS & STORIES

VETERANS PARK

HERITAGE HALL

TASTE OF AMERICA

YOUNG PATRIOTS GALLERY

LIBERTY HALL NORTH

LIBERTY HALL SOUTH

SPIRIT OF ‘76 BIERGARTEN

THE ‘76 STAGE

AROUND THE GROUNDS

12:00 PM – ‘76 STAGE /BIERGARTEN

Queen City Funk and Soul

12:15 PM* – HERITAGE HALL

Collectors Coin Giveaway

*ADDITIONAL TIMES: 2:15, 5:30 & 6:30

12:45 PM – STARTING AT FRONT GATE

“The March for Liberty" Parade

1:00 PM – FOUNDERS STAGE – OPENING CEREMONY

2:00 PM – FOUNDERS STAGE – SPEAKER

Local Historian Al Feldstein

3:00 PM – YOUNG PATRIOTS GALLERY

Essay & Art Contest Award Announcements

3:30 PM – FOUNDERS STAGE – SPEAKER

American Author, Historian and Journalist Russell Shorto

3:30 PM – ‘76 STAGE/BIERGARTEN

The Remedy Band

4:30 PM – INDEPENDENCE TRACK

“A COUNTY UNITED” FLAG UNFURLING

*PARTICIPANTS MEET AT 3:45PM (https://bit.ly/a-county-united)

5:15 PM – FOUNDERS STAGE – SPEAKER

Author Jim Rada

6:00 PM SKYWARD SALUTE DRONE ZONE

Drone Discovery: A Skyward Salute Preview

*MEET AT 5:45 PM AT SKYWARD SALUTE DRONE ZONE SIGN AT END OF KIDS ZONE

6:15 PM FOUNDERS STAGE – SPEAKER

Author & Professional Forester Champ Zumbrun

"Story of a Western Maryland Revolutionary Patriot & Liberty Tree"

6:30 PM – ‘76 STAGE/BIERGARTEN

The Jason Shaw Band

7:00 PM – HERITAGE HALL STAGE

Garrett Community Concert Band

9:30 PM – SKYWARD SALUTE DRONE ZONE

Night Time Spectacular by Firefly Drones – 300 drones lighting up the night-time sky

Weather Policy

The Garrett 250 Birthday Bash is rain or shine celebration with the exception of the Firefly Drone Show.

The Firefly Drone Show has a rain date of Sunday, July 19, 2026, at 9:30 pm ET.

In the case of severe weather, updates will be communicated through the Official Text System: TEXT “Garrett250” to 888777 to stay connected.

**DRONE SHOW PRIME VIEWING LOCATIONS**

Garrett County Fairgrounds fields / parking lot

More information can be found on www.Garrett250.com

The Garrett 250 initiative, a countywide celebration, is commissioned by Garrett County Government.

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Date and Time

Saturday Jul 18, 2026
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM EDT

Location

Garrett County Fairgrounds
270 Mosser Road
McHenry, MD 21541

Fees/Admission

Admission by donation. All are welcome at this FREE event featuring local music, history, food, and community!